Joseph Enoch Airey (25 August 1894 – 10 February 1976) was a Senior Technical Officer for the
Telecommunications Research Establishment.
Airey was born in Oldham, Lancashire on 25 August 1894. He joined
Robert Watson-Watt in 1924, and was an original member of the radar team,
responsible for masts and support equipment. He was Senior Technical Officer at
Telecommunications Research Establishment. Alongside
Arnold Wilkins
Arnold Frederic Wilkins OBE (20 February 1907 – 5 August 1985) was a pioneer in developing the use of radar. It was Arnold Wilkins who suggested to his boss, Robert Watson-Watt, that reflected radio waves might be used to detect aircraft ...
, Airey is credited with having discovered
Bawdsey Manor,
Ordfordnessas a site for the Air Ministry department that was significant in the
history of radar. In his book "Three Steps to Victory"
Robert Watson-Watt proclaims Joe Airey's greatest constructional achievement as the installation of a mast atop the Great Pyramid at Cheops. During
World War I, Airey was a member of the
Dunsterforce in the
Persia and the Middle East. By the time of his retirement, he was Station Engineer at the
Royal Radar Establishment. He was appointed a
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
for his services by
King George VI
George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of Ind ...
in his Birthday Honours on 14 June 1945.
Airey died in
Poole Dorset on 10 February 1976.
See also
*
History of radar
References
1894 births
1976 deaths
Members of the Order of the British Empire
British telecommunications engineers
Radar pioneers
People from Oldham
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